Slide fastener



J. J. ROOT SLIDE FASTENER May 8, 1951 Filed July s, 1948 FIG.2

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FIG. FIG.4 FIG}.5 By ATTU/Q/Vfy Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIDE FASTENER I John J. Root, New York, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1948, Serial No. 36,899

This invention relates to slide fasteners of the general type in which the adjacent rows of fastener elements are secured to strips of tape and are progressively brought into interlocking relation by the longitudinal movement of a slide member.

It has been recognized in the art that the operation of such slide fasteners is often impeded by the presence of obstructions such as papers, clothing or other articles which may protrude in the path of travel of the slider. Various'expedients have been devised to remedy this defect and I am aware of so-called plow members connected anteriorly of the slider for moving protruding objects awayfrom the fastener elements as the slider is drawn inwardly. Such plow members themselves, however, embody their own disadvantages in that they interfere with the normal and desired operation of the fastener. Thus, they maintain the tapes diverging in the area of the slider when such tapes should be completely interlocked or closed.

Bearing the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide path clearing means in combination with the slider of a fastener of the type described'wherein the inter-. locking fastener elements may be completely locked during the entire extent thereof notwithstanding the provision of a plow-like device for effecting the desired clearing action.

Another object of this invention is to provide path clearing means for connection to a slide fastener which is simple and economical to apply, requiring no major changes in conventional slide fasteners and which is of an overall flexibility so as to render it adaptable to various environments and fastener movements.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description, it being understood that the above general statements of the objects of my invention are intended to describe and not limit it in any manner.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of a slide fastener embodying the invention herein.

Fig. 2 is a similar view and illustrating the improved action of the path clearing member in permitting the tapes to interlock to their complete extent.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the slider device per se.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the slider as disclosed in Fig. 3.

The tapes H! are provided with the conven- 5 Claims. (Cl. 24-20515) tional rows of cooperating fastener elements ll. Such tapes are arranged to be interlocked through the advance of a slider l2 and to be separated by the retraction of such slider. The action thereof is well understood in the art and detailed description would appear unnecessary. Briefly, the slider 12 is formed with a central passage l3 (Fig. 4) having divergent channels through which the rows 1 l travel'so as to become interlocked in the central region of passage 13. A'pivoted handle I4 is provided to facilitate manual actuation of the slider.

The invention comprehends the connection of a pair of protruding channel members l5 and IE to the slider 12. In the form shown, such channel members may be rectangular as illustrated in Fig. 5 and are provided. with an opening 11 so that the tape may ride therethrough. The fastener elements ll ride through the hollow I8 of the channel members;

Slider I2 is formed, asis well known, of a top plate I!) and a bottom plate 20 which define the passage or chamber 13 thereof. The channel members are preferably pivoted to at least one plate of the slide as, for example, in the form shown. Thus, tail pieces l5a and 15b may be provided and formed integrally with th channel members. A pivot 22 is provided in the top plate [9 of slider [2, such pivot taking the form of a rivet or the like. Pivot 22 swingably connects tail piece We to the top plate 19 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The channel members which may also have the tail pieces 1512 may further be swingably connected to the bottom plate 20 of the slider by the pivot 23 in order to stabilize its swinging action. Both channel members are swingably connected to the slider in the same manner although on opposite sides thereof so as to accommodate the respective rows of fastener elements The operation and advantages of the improved slide fastener will be apparent from the foregoing description. Briefly, when the slider I2 is in a retracted position such as illustrated in Fig. 1, the channel members [5 and I6 will be divergent and will serve their purpose of shielding the passage l3 from the entrance of foreign obmembers are thus urged together so as to eifect a desirable closure of the fastener throughout its length. It is contemplated that the channel members may be formed of resilient, very thin metal so that the pivots may be supplanted by the resiliency of the channel members themselves. Thus, the channel members, if not pivoted, will tend to be bent inwardly pursuant to the action of the closed tapes against the resiliency of the walls thereof.

While there has been described what at present is considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit. It is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a slide fastener for use in connection with two rows of cooperating fastener elements and a slider defining passages wherein said rows respectively run, a pair of channel members secured to said slider and serving as a continuation of the respective passages, each of said channel members extending outwardly from said lider and embracing one of said rows of fastener elements, each of said channel members being further swingably secured to said slider whereby said channel members may either diverge in respect to each other or be brought substantially parallel to each other.

" 2. In a slide fastener for use in connection with two rows of cooperating fastener elements and a slider defining passages wherein said rows respectively run, a pair of channel members secured to said slider and serving as a continuation of the respective passages, each of said channel members extending outwardly of said slider and embracing one of said rows of fastener elements, a tail piece on each of said channel members, and two pivot members, each connecting one of said tail pieces to said slider whereby said channel members may be pivotally secured to said slider.

3. In a slider for use in connection with rows of cooperating fastener elements having tapes whereby the same may be secured to a receptacle for articles, and a slider defining passages wherein said fastener elements run, a pair of independent channel members pivotally secured anteriorly of and extending from said slider, each of said channel members embracing one row of fastener elements and being formed with a longitudinal outward slot whereby the tape may run therethrough, and a tail piece on each of said fastener elements which is hinged to said slider whereby said channel members are pivotally secured thereto.

4. In a slider for use in connection with rows of cooperating fastener elements having tapes whereby the same may be secured to a receptacle for articles, and a slider defining passages wherein said fastener elements run, channel means secured to said slider and extending outwardly therefrom and having openings formed therein for embracing the respective rows of fastener elements, said channel means being pivotally secured to said slider that said openings may freely approach or withdraw from one another depending upon whether said tapes are divergent or parallel whereby said openings may assume corresponding divergent or parallel positions with respect to each other.

5. In a slide fastener for use in connection With two rows of cooperating fastener elements and a slider defining passages wherein said rows respectively run, a pair of channel members secured to said slider and serving as a continuation of the respective passages, each of said channel members extending outwardly of said slider and embracing one of said rows of fastener elements, a tail piece on each of said channel members, and a pivot member connecting theta-i1 piece to said slider whereby said channel members may be pivotally secured to said slider, each tail piece being integral with an upper face of the channel member with which it is associated and pivotally secured to the upper face of said slider, and a second tail piece integral with the underside of the channel member and pivotally secured to the underside of said slider.

JOHN J. ROOT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,072,200 De Vere Mar. 2, 1937 2,240,048 Morin et a1 Apr. 29, 1941 2,278,388 Bogenberger Mar. 31, 1942 

